We all know from personal experience that when people get mad? It can be in a variety of different ways. Some people get loud, shouting, waving their arms, and generally losing control and making themselves look big. Others go quiet, cold, and calculating, talking in clipped sentences, crossing their arms, and generally tightening their control—and their defenses. There are even people who smile when angry. So what do your characters do? Are they hot or cold? Extroverted in their anger, introverted, or somewhere in between?

Character-specific body language is great for expressing personality, culture, and background. Just remember: body language is not some fancy new kind of sprinkles! It doesn’t just go on top; it should always be integral to the character and what they’re trying to express. And, as always, be sure to stay on the right side of that charming-cliché line.

Make Sure It Adds

Just as in dialogue, where we don’t really say everything a person would say (uhm, ah, er), it’s also good to be choosey about what body language you use. For example, be careful when emphasizing an emotion expressed in dialogue with body language–if the concept is very simply put (“No!” She shook her head.) it can come off as repetitive rather than emphatic. In this case, you might be better served by using either just the dialogue or just the body language. And, of course, you can keep it from being too simple by playing with the timing. If a character emphatically shakes their head no for a bit before managing to find the words to properly express their presumably extremest of displeasure, well . . . that says something! Something more than just shaking your head “no.”

Don’t Neglect Nonhumans

Be they mice, half-devils, or My Little Ponies, nonhuman characters have a lot unique body language to play with. (Hello, big pointy ears! They’re like an extra set of eyebrows . . . for your whole body! Or maybe that’s wings . . .) And incorporating those expressive, nonhuman elements is a great way to really make them feel real—as well as up the endearment factor by like, a million. To start, try listing the things the nonhuman has that are distinctive, like wings, mobile ears and tails, antennae, horns, and fur. Then, figure out how each of the character would use each of those pieces given different emotions. Perhaps an angry character’s tail lashes, and a dejected character’s wings wrap tightly around her body. Just play with it! And, if you get stuck, watch Elinor in mother bear mode in Brave, Toothless the dragon in How to Train Your Dragon, or Donkey in Shrek for some awesome inspiration.

41 Emotions as Expressed through Body Language unique

This list, while exhausting, is soooo not exhaustive; it barely scratches the surface. And each entry could easily become cliché (if it isn’t already). But, it should be enough to get you started. Want more? Start watching people (not in a creepy way), and take notes of what they seem to do when expressing different emotions. Your repertoire of expression will double in no time.
PS—do not use these for actual, real-life body language reading; you will fail. These are strictly novelistic.

Awed -Slack -jawed, raised eyebrows, staring -Frozen, slack body language (Self? What self? There is only Zuul.) -Take a step back and put a hand to his heart

Amused -Smiling and throwing back her head laughing -Slapping her thighs, stamping her feet, clapping her hands -Shaking her head (That’s so wrong!)

Attentive -Slow head nodding with a furrowed brow -Leaning forward, toward the speaker, and sitting up -Taking notes -Looking over the top of her glasses

Bored -Resting his head on his palm, peeking out between the fingers, maybe even slipping so his head “accidentally” hits the table -Tapping toes, twirling pencil, doodling, and otherwise fidgeting -Staring out a window, or at anything remotely more interesting (Which is everything . . .)

Contempt/Superiority -Lifted chin (The better to look down the nose.) -Pursed lips, sneering, slight frown -Circling a shoulder, stretching her neck, turning away—anything to indicate she doesn’t see the person as a threat or worthy of her attention -Grabbing her lapels, or tucking her thumbs in her waistcoat (See this clothing? It is much nicer than yours.) -Dismissive hand-waving

Cynical/Sarcastic/Bitter -Twisted lips or a half-smile -Sneering, sometimes with shaking the head and other defensive body language -Pressed lips with a slight frown -Eye rolling

Disgusted -Crinkling his nose -Curling his lip and/or showing the tip of his tongue briefly -Flinching back and interposing a shoulder or turning away -Covering his nose, gagging, and squinting his eyes shut—hard—for a moment. (It assaults all the senses.)

Displeased -A plastered-on fake smile (You suck; but I can’t tell you that. So here: a fake smile! Enjoy.) -Pouting or frowning (I’ll cry if you don’t give me what I want—don’t test me, I will!) -Crossed arms and other defensive/frustrated body language (I will not let that terrible idea influence me!)

Distressed -Wide eyes and shallow, rapid breathing -Beating the walls, or huddling into a corner -Clasping hands over his head protectively -Rocking himself -Handwringing -Running his hands through his hair

Embarrassment -Blushing -Stammering -Covering her face with her hands or bowing her head (I’m so embarrassed, I can’t look!) -Difficulty maintaining eye contact, looking down and away

Excited/Anticipation -Rubbing hands together (I can’t wait to get my hands on it!) -Licking lips (It’s so close I can taste it!) -A vigorous, pumping handshake (I can’t wait to get started!) -Jumping up and down (Look at me being literal here! I am jumping for joy.) -A wide and easy grin

Flirty -Eye play, like winking, looking up through the lashes, over the shoulder glances, and eye catching -Preening, like hair flipping or smooth, clothing straightening, spine straightening, etc. -Striking a cowboy pose, with his thumbs gripping his belt tight

Frustrated -Shaking his head (You are so wrong!) -Massaging temples (My brain—it hurts.) -Clasping his wrist in his opposite hand, behind his back (Bad arm! No biscuit.) -Running his hands through his hair (All this frustration is making my hair mussy. I can feel it.) -Grabbing onto something like armrests, or white-knuckled interdigitation (Restrain yourself!)

Impatience -Quick head nodding (Get on with it!) -Toe/finger tapping (Hear this? These are seconds. Wasted. Listening to you.) -Sighing, checking the clock/sundial/freckles (Time. It is moving so slowly.)

Jealous -Tight lips, or a sour expression -Narrow eyes locked on the perpetrator, to the point of a stare down -Crossed arms, and additional frustrated, angry, possessive, or bitter body language

Possessive -Handshake with arm clasp -Putting hands on or around someone’s shoulders, neck, waist, back, or even just the wall near them -Standing in someone’s personal space, body positioned toward that person -Any one-sided act of intimacy, like running a knuckle down someone’s cheek -Staring down any who get too close

Proud/Dominant -Chin up, chest out, shoulders back -A painfully hard handshake that not only squishes the bones, but also forces his hand on top -Leaning back with his hands behind his head, and his feet up -Strong, unblinking, focused eye contact

Secretive -A tight-lipped smile (My lips are zipped.) -Hiding her hands in her pockets (What has it got in its nasty little pocket?) -Looking away

Scared -Hunched shoulders, shrinking back from others (Don’t hurt me!) -Wide eyes and lifted eyebrows (The better to see them coming.) -Shaking, trembling, or freezing -Rocking from side to side, sometimes holding self (It’ll all be okay, self, it’ll all be okay.)

Shame -Slumped shoulders (Don’t look at me.) -Trouble meeting your gaze, looking down and away -Burying her face in her hands or bowing her head (I can’t face the world right now.)

Shocked -Hands covering her mouth, or mouth hanging open, sometimes with a gasp (If I had words, I would be saying them.) -Freezing and staring with wide eyes and eyebrows raised (Diverting all resources toward staring.) -Smacking a palm into his forehead (Clearly, my head isn’t working right, or I wouldn’t have seen that)

Shy -Avoids eye contact, or has only fleeting eye contact (Eye contact means you might speak to me.) -Keeps a fair distance from everyone, and will back away if someone steps closer (Space invaders!) -Folded arms, head down, and other defensive body language (If I make myself small, they can’t see me.)

Suspicious/Skeptical/Disbelief -Narrowed eyes, sometimes with a sidelong glance or raised eyebrow (Perhaps if I look at it out of the corner of my eye, I will catch it unawares.) -Rubbing his eyes (I can’t believe what I’m metaphorically or literally seeing!) -Shaking his head (I—I don’t believe it.) -Blowing out cheeks (Well , I don’t know . . .)